Can diffusion tensor imaging predict motor power affection after moderate traumatic brain injury?

Objective

To determine whether commissural and projection fibers fractional anisotropy (FA) abnormalities can help in the prediction of long-term outcome of motor power affection after moderately severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

MRI protocol included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and was performed for 32 patients with moderate TBI and 32 matched control subjects. Regions of interests were applied in the FA maps in the corpus callosum, internal capsules posterior limb, and cerebral peduncles. Results were compared in patients with motor power affection and patients without motor power affection to the control group.

Results

All patients had FA values lower than the control group with significance differences in the corpus callosum. Patient group with weakness had FA values lower than the control groups with significance differences in the posterior limb of the left internal capsules (p = 0.001) and left cerebral peduncles (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found when comparing the posterior limb of the left internal capsule (p = 0.002) and left cerebral peduncle (p = 0.022) to the right side in the weakness group.

Conclusion

FA values measured in the acute stage provided information about associated and projectional fibers disruptions, which have a prognostic value about motor power affection.     

Diffusion tensor tractography as a supplementary tool to conventional MRI for evaluating patients with myelopathy

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of DTI including apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), in patients with symptoms of spinal cord myelopathy.

Patients and methods

Fifteen subjects with clinical symptoms of acute (n = 3) or slowly progressive (n = 12) spinal cord myelopathy and 11 healthy volunteers were prospectively selected. They all underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the spine at 3.0 T machine. In addition to conventional MRI, DTI was performed; maps of the apparent diffusion coefficient and of fractional anisotropy were reconstructed. Diffusion tensor tractography was used to visualize the morphological features of normal and impaired white matter at the level of the pathological lesions in the spinal cord. The patients were divided into two groups according to the signal intensity on T2WI (group A with no change in signal intensity and group B with high signal intensity).

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy values between the different spinal cord segments of the normal subjects. All of the patients in group B had increased apparent diffusion coefficient values and decreased fractional anisotropy values at the lesion level compared to the normal controls. However, there were no statistically significant diffusion index differences between group A patients and the normal controls.

Conclusion

Diffusion tensor imaging is a reliable method for the evaluation of the diffusion properties of normal and compressed spinal cords. Furthermore, this technique can be used as an important supplementary tool to conventional MRI for the quantification of fiber damage in spinal cord compression, thus has the potential to be of great utility for treatment planning and follow up.     

Cerebral asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia: A voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study

Purpose:

To evaluate the differences in gray‐ and white‐matter asymmetry between schizophrenia patients and normal subjects.

Materials and Methods:

Forty‐eight right‐handed patients with chronic schizophrenia (24 males and 24 females) and 48 right‐handed age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (24 males and 24 females) were included in this study. The effects of diagnosis on gray‐matter volume asymmetry and white‐matter fractional anisotropy (FA) asymmetry were evaluated with use of voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and voxel‐based analysis of FA maps derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), respectively.

Results:

The mean gray‐ and white‐matter volumes were significantly smaller in the schizophrenia group than in the control group. The voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) showed no significant effect of diagnosis on gray‐matter volume asymmetry. The voxel‐based analysis of DTI also showed no significant effect of diagnosis on white‐matter FA asymmetry.

Conclusion:

Our results of voxel‐based analyses showed no significant differences in either gray‐matter volume asymmetry or white‐matter FA asymmetry between schizophrenia patients and normal subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:221–226. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

首发抑郁症患者治疗前后基于体素的DTI研究

目的:应用磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)探讨首发抑郁症患者药物治疗前后脑白质异常的变化特点.方法:采用3.0T磁共振成像仪,对13例首发抑郁症患者(分别于治疗前及抗抑郁药物治疗8周后)和14例性别、年龄相匹配的正常志愿者进行DTI检查.运用SPM2分析软件,采用基于体素的分析方法,比较首发抑郁症患者药物治疗前后全脑弥散各向异性分数(FA)值的差异及变化.结果:首发抑郁症患者的右侧胼胝体膝部、内囊膝部、右侧下纵束所属部分区域FA值明显低于正常对照组(P＜0.001),经过药物治疗症状缓解后,FA值明显恢复(P＜0.001).结论:治疗有效的首发抑郁症患者脑白质的微观病理改变是可逆的;DTI可以动态观察抑郁症患者脑白质的微观病理改变.     

Diffusion tensor imaging differentiates vascular parkinsonism from parkinsonian syndromes of degenerative origin in elderly subjects

Background and Purpose

The etiologic diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes is of particular importance when considering syndromes of vascular or degenerative origin. The purpose of this study is to find differences in the white-matter architecture between those two groups in elderly patients.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-five patients were prospectively included (multiple-system atrophy, n = 5; Parkinson's disease, n = 15; progressive supranuclear palsy, n = 9; vascular parkinsonism, n = 6), with a mean age of 76 years. Patients with multiple-system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease were grouped as having parkinsonian syndromes of degenerative origin. Brain MRIs included diffusion tensor imaging. Fractional anisotropy and mean-diffusivity maps were spatially normalized, and group analyses between parkinsonian syndromes of degenerative origin and vascular parkinsonism were performed using a voxel-based approach.

Results

Statistical parametric-mapping analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data showed decreased fractional anisotropy value in internal capsules bilaterally in patients with vascular parkinsonism compared to parkinsonian syndromes of degenerative origin (p = 0.001) and showed a lower mean diffusivity in the white matter of the left superior parietal lobule (p = 0.01).Fractional anisotropy values were found decreased in the middle cerebellar peduncles in multiple-system atrophy compared to Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. The mean diffusivity was increased in those regions for these subgroups.

Conclusion

Clinically defined vascular parkinsonism was associated with decreased fractional anisotropy in the deep white matter (internal capsules) compared to parkinsonian syndromes of degenerative origin. These findings are consistent with previously published neuropathological data.     

Correlation study of 3T-MR-DTI measurements and clinical symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Objective

To discuss the correlation between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements, diffusion tensor tractography and the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Methods

Based on the Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, 104 cervical spondylotic myelopathy cases were first divided into four groups: mild, moderate, severe and serious groups. According to lesion signal characteristics, all cases were again divided into three groups: A(N/N): normal signal in both T1WI and T2WI; B (N/H): normal signal in T1WI but high signal in T2WI; and C (L/H): low signal in T1WI and high signal in T2WI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), λ1, λ2, and λ3 were measured and diffusion tensor tractography was performed in the seriously compressed section of the spinal cord.

Results

The FA values were positively correlated with JOA scores (r = 0.883, P < 0.05), and significantly different among four JOA groups (P < 0.05). The ADC, λ2, and λ3 were significantly different among the moderate, severe and serious groups as well as among the A, B, and C groups (P < 0.05). Declining FA values were found associated with increasing fiber bundle damage.

Conclusions

The FA values and the change patterns of fiber bundle were more sensitive than T2WI for spinal cord lesion, and were positively correlated with clinical symptoms.     

Assessment of memory/attention impairment in children with primary nocturnal enuresis: A voxel-based morphometry study

Aim

Assessment of memory/attention impairment and related exploration of the gray matter differential MR density variations between children with and without primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methodology is the aim of the present study.

Methods

A total of 75 right-handed PNE children (M/F = 39:36, average age 10.4 ± 1.3 years) and 72 age-matched, right-handed, healthy controls (M/F = 40:32, 10.0 ± 1.2 years) were recruited for the study. First, intelligence tests were performed using the China-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) in both PNE and control children. The full intelligence quotient (FIQ), verbal IQ (VIQ), performance IQ (PIQ), and memory/caution (M/C) factor were measured. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed using high resolution 3 Tesla T1-weighted MR images, processed using VBM5 in the PNE and control children. Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney U test were performed to analyze the difference in the gray matter density (GMD) between the PNE and control children.

Results

The FIQ, VIQ, and PIQ in the PNE group were within the normal range and did not significantly differ from the control group, though the M/C factor was statistically lower in the PNE group. Compared with normal controls, PNE children exhibited lower GMD in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left cerebellum (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Impairment in memory/attention was detected in PNE children, and the structural abnormalities of the right DLPFC and left cerebellum are likely to be implicated in these deficits.     

Microstructural abnormalities in the trigeminal nerves of patients with trigeminal neuralgia revealed by multiple diffusion metrics

Objective

To investigate microstructural tissue changes of trigeminal nerve (TGN) in patients with unilateral trigeminal neuralgia (TN) by multiple diffusion metrics, and correlate the diffusion indexes with the clinical variables.

Methods

16 patients with TN and 6 healthy controls (HC) were recruited into our study. All participants were imaged with a 3.0 T system with three-dimension time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) DTI-sequence. We placed regions of interest over the root entry zone of the TGN and measured fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). The mean values of FA, MD, AD and RD were compared between the affected and unaffected sides in the same patient, and to HC values. The correlation between the side-to-side diffusion metric difference and clinical variables (disease duration and visual analogy scale, VAS) was further explored.

Results

Compared with the unaffected side and HC, the affected side showed significantly decreased FA and increased RD; however, no significant changes of AD were found. A trend toward significantly increased MD was identified on the affected side comparing with the unaffected side. We also found the significant correlation between the FA reduction and VAS of pain (r = −0.55, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

DTI can quantitatively assess the microstructural abnormalities of the affected TGN in patients with TN. Our results suggest demyelination without significant axonal injury is the essential pathological basis of the affected TGN by multiple diffusion metrics. The correlation between FA reduction and VAS suggests FA as a potential objective MRI biomarker to correlate with clinical severity.     

Glaucoma severity affects diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of the optic nerve and optic radiation

Objectives

To evaluate whether MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the optic nerve and optic radiation in glaucoma patients provides parameters to discriminate between mild and severe glaucoma and to determine whether DTI derived indices correlate with retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.

Methods

3-Tesla DTI was performed on 90 subjects (30 normal, 30 mild glaucoma and 30 severe glaucoma subjects) and the FA and MD of the optic nerve and optic radiation were measured. The categorisation into mild and severe glaucoma was done using the Hodapp–Parrish–Anderson (HPA) classification. RNFL thickness was also assessed on all subjects using OCT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Spearman's correlation coefficient was carried out.

Results

FA and MD values in the optic nerve and optic radiation decreased and increased respectively as the disease progressed. FA at the optic nerve had the highest sensitivity (87%) and specificity (80%). FA values displayed the strongest correlation with RNFL thickness in the optic nerve (r = 0.684, p ≤ 0.001) while MD at the optic radiation showed the weakest correlation with RNFL thickness (r = −0.360, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

The high sensitivity and specificity of DTI-derived FA values in the optic nerve and the strong correlation between DTI-FA and RNFL thickness suggest that these parameters could serve as indicators of disease severity.     

急性期放射性脑损伤磁共振扩散张量成像的定量研究

目的 利用磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)定量分析,探讨正常脑组织不同部位急性期放射损伤的敏感性。方法 44例欲行全颅放疗的颅内肿瘤患者,在放疗前及放疗后3周行磁共振常规扫描、增强扫描及扩散张量成像,测量非肿瘤侧大脑半球接受总放射剂量为27 Gy时的等剂量区域内脑回灰质、脑回白质、深部灰质、深部白质的表观扩散系数(ADC)、部分各向异性(FA)、相对各向异性(RA)、容积比率(VR)等指标,并进行对比分析。 结果 所有患者常规及增强磁共振扫描非肿瘤侧大脑半球均未发现异常信号,而放疗后脑回灰质ADC值升高(t=-3.819,P<0.05),脑深部灰质核团ADC、容积比率值升高(t=-3.31、-2.810,P<0.05),脑深部灰质核团FA、RA值降低(t=2.906、2.349,P<0.05),其余部位放疗前后DTI各指标差异无统计学意义。结论 在急性期脑灰质较白质对放疗损伤敏感,DTI能从组织细胞功能水平对放射性脑损伤急性反应进行评价。     

Prediction of motor outcome in ischemic stroke involving the pyramidal tract using diffusion tensor imaging

Background and purpose

Early evaluation of the pyramidal tract is a prerequisite in patients with ischemic stroke in order to decide the optimal treatment or to assess appropriate rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to predict motor outcome using quantitative and qualitative diffusion tensor parameters and their correlations with severity of stroke as defined by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).

Materials and methods

Twenty-one patients presenting with ischemic stroke were studied with DTI. All patients had diffusion measurements such as FA values of the affected and unaffected regions and the FA ratio between them. Color FA maps of the pyramidal tract were constructed and the degree of infarctions was classified into groups according to the involvements of the pyramidal tracts. The motor performance of the upper and lower extremities was assessed using the NIHSS on the day of patients’ admission and discharge. The motor outcomes were correlated with the FA values of the pyramidal tract.

Results

The FA values of the affected pyramidal tracts were significantly lower as compared with the unaffected side (p-value <0.01). The reduction in the FA values of the affected side was significantly correlated (r = 0.41 and p-value <0.001) with the degree of pyramidal tract involvements that were significantly correlated with the motor outcome on patients’ discharge day.

Conclusions

Quantitative (FA values) and qualitative (the diffusion tensor tractography) diffusion parameters have potential to predict motor outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.     

Prediction and monitoring of treatment effect using T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in colorectal liver metastases: Potential of whole tumour ROI and selective ROI analysis

Purpose

To evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for prediction and early monitoring of treatment in colorectal liver metastases.

Materials and methods

Ten patients were included. Baseline and follow-up DCE-MRI examinations were evaluated by whole tumour and selected ROI placements calculating Kep-values. Selective ROIs, concentric-like and hot spot, were drawn on early arterial phase images. Monitoring of treatment was performed comparing RECIST1.1 criteria with whole tumour and selected ROI placement. To evaluate treatment effect between responders and non-responders, independent samples t-test was used on Kep-values.

Results

In each patient largest lesion was evaluated totalling 10 target lesions. At baseline, for whole tumour ROI placements mean Kep-values in responders were significantly higher than mean Kep-values in non-responders (t = 7.481, p < 0.001). Selective ROI placement comparison of mean Kep-values at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment (first follow-up measurement) showed significant decrease in responding patients (t = 4.706, p = 0.003) whereas increase in Kep-values in non-responding patients was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

This preliminary study shows that baseline Kep for whole tumour ROI is a predictor for treatment outcome. Decrease of Kep using selective ROIs allows early identification of response after 6 weeks of treatment.     

Diffusion abnormality in posterior cingulate fiber tracts in Alzheimer’s disease: tract-specific analysis

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine diffusion abnormalities in the posterior cingulate fiber tracts (PCFTs) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

Materials and methods

We studied 23 AD patients and 18 age-matched normal controls who underwent magnetic resonance imaging using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTT of PCFTs was generated from DTI. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in co-registered voxels along with DTT of PCFTs. Student’s t-test was used to compare results between the AD patients and normal controls.

Results

The MD in PCFTs was significantly higher in AD patients than in normal controls (P = 0.019). The FA in PCFTs was significantly lower in AD patients than in normal controls (P = 0.007).

Conclusion

The abnormal MD increase and FA decrease, which is considered to indicate a net loss of barriers that restrict water molecular motion and tissue anisotropy of white matter, is consistent with neuropathological data that demonstrate partial loss of myelin, axons, and oligodendrial cells in white matter of AD brains. Our results suggest that MD and FA reflect progression of AD-related histopathological changes in the PCFTs and may represent a useful biological index for monitoring AD.     

Potential of diffusion tensor MR imaging in the assessment of cognitive impairments in children with periventricular leukomalacia born preterm

Purpose

To investigate MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tractography (FT) in the assessment of altered major white matter fibers correlated with cognitive functions in preterm infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), to explore the neural foundation for PVL children's cognitive impairments.

Materials and methods

Forty six preterm infants (16 ± 4.7 months) suffered from PVL and 16 age-matched normal controls were recruited. Developmental quotient (DQ) was recorded to evaluate PVL children's cognitive functions. According to the DQ scores, patients were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe cognitive impairment groups. DTI scan was performed. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values of major white matter fibers were measured and their correlation with cognitive levels was evaluated.

Results

Compared with the control group, the PVL group showed a significant mean FA reduction in bilateral corticospinal tract (CST), anterior/posterior limb of internal capsule (ICAL/ICPL), arcuate fasciculus (AF), corona radiate (CR), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), splenium of corpus callosum (SCC) (p < 0.05) and bilateral posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) (p < 0.01). The FA values of left CST, bilateral AF, anterior cingulum (ACG), SLF, ICAL, ICPL, PTR, CR, genu of corpus callosum (GCC), SCC and middle cerebellar peduncle showed significant negative correlations with the cognitive levels.

Conclusions

DTI can provide more information for understanding the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in preterm infants with PVL.     

Diffusion tensor imaging of vertebral bone marrow in children with Gaucher's disease type I and III: Pre- and post-therapy

PurposeTo assess diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the vertebral bone marrow (BM) in children with Gaucher's disease (GD) types I and III before and after therapy.MethodsProspective study was conducted upon 25 children with GD type I (n = 17) and III (n = 8) and 13 age and sex-matched controls underwent DTI of vertebral BM. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of vertebral BM was calculated and correlated with genotyping, chitotriosidase, hemoglobin (HB) and, platelet count.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in MD and FA of BM between patients and controls (P = 0.001 and 0.02). The area under the curve (AUC) of MD and FA used to differentiate untreated patients from controls was 0.902 and 0.68 with sensitivity, specificity, and, accuracy 92%, 84.6%, and, 89.5% respectively. There was a significant difference in MD and FA of BM between untreated and treated patients (P = 0.001 and 0.02). AUC of MD and FA used to differentiate untreated from treated patients was 0.93 and 0.649 with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 92%, 80%, and 86% respectively. There was a significant difference in MD and FA (P = 0.03, 0.001 respectively) of BM in GD with homozygous L444P mutation (n = 9) and other mutations (n = 14). Chiotriptase, HB and platelet count of patients was correlated with MD (r = −0.36, 0.42, −0.41) and FA (r = −0.47, −0.37, −0.46) respectively.ConclusionDTI of vertebral BM can help in diagnosis and monitoring patients with GD after therapy and correlated with genotyping, and hematological biomarkers of GD.     

Comparison of the diagnostic performances of diffusion parameters in diffusion weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging of breast lesions

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the diffusion parameters measured by conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for discrimination of malignant breast lesions from benign lesions and the normal breast.

Materials and methods

The study included 52 women with 55 breast lesions (30 malignant, 25 benign). DTI and DWI were performed complementary to dynamic contrast MRI at 3T. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of DWI, mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of DTI were measured for lesions and contralateral breast parenchyma in each patient. We used b factors of 0, 50, 850, 1000 and 1500 s/mm² for DWI and b 0 and 1000 s/mm² for DTI. ADC, MD and FA values were compared between malignant and benign lesions, and the normal parenchyma by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Diffusion parameters showed no difference according to menopausal status in the normal breast. ADC and MD values of the malignant lesions were significantly lower than benign lesions and normal parenchyma (p = 0.001). The FA showed no statistical significance. With the cut-off values of ≤1.23 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (b 0–1000 s/mm²) and ≤1.12 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (b 0–1500 s/mm²), ADC showed 92.85% and 96.15% sensitivity; 72.22% and 73.52% PPV, respectively. With a cut-off value of ≤1.27 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (b 1000 s/mm²), MD was 100% sensitive with a PPV of 65.90%. Comparing the diagnostic performance of the parameters in DTI with DWI, we obtained similar efficiency of ADC with b values of 0,1000 and 0,1500 s/mm² and MD with a b value of 0, 1000 s/mm² (AUC = 0.82 ± 0.07).

Conclusion

ADC of DWI and MD of DTI values provide significant discriminative factors for benign and malignant breast lesions. FA measurement was not discriminative. Supported with clinical and dynamic contrast MRI findings, DWI and DTI findings provide significant contribution to the final radiologic decision.     

Diffusion abnormalities of the uncinate fasciculus in Alzheimer’s disease: diffusion tensor tract-specific analysis using a new method to measure the core of the tract

Introduction Our aim was to determine diffusion abnormalities in the uncinate fasciculus (UF) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) using a new method for measuring the core of the tract. Methods We studied 19 patients with AD and 19 age-matched control subjects who underwent MRI using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTT of the UF was generated. The mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the core of the tract were measured after voxelized tract shape processing. Student’s t-test was used to compare results between patients with AD and controls. Intraobserver correlation tests were also performed. Results FA was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in the UF of patients with AD than of controls. There was no significant difference in MD along the UF between the two groups. Intraobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) for the first and second measurement was r > 0.93 for measured FA and r > 0.92 for measured MD. Conclusion Our results suggest that FA reflects progression of AD-related histopathological changes in the UF of the white matter and may represent a useful biological index in monitoring AD. Diffusion tensor tract-specific analysis with voxelized tract shape processing to measure the core of the tract may be a sensitive tool for evaluation of diffusion abnormalities of white matter tracts in AD.     

Iron deposition in the precentral grey matter in patients with multiple sclerosis: A quantitative study using susceptibility-weighted imaging

Purpose

Several studies suggest that iron deposition may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. Three-dimensional (3D) enhanced T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN) at 3T was used to quantify iron deposition in the precentral grey matter in MS and its relationship with disease duration, atrophy and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.

Methods

We recruited 33 patients with diagnosis of clinically definite MS and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls who underwent conventional brain MRI, 3D-ESWAN and 3D T1sequences. We obtained the mean phase values (MPVs) of the precentral grey matter on ESWAN-filtered phase images and volume of the precentral gyrus on 3D T1 images. We investigated the correlation between precentral grey matter MPVs, precentral gyrus volume, disease duration and EDSS scores of MS patients and healthy controls.

Results

The precentral grey matter MPVs in MS patients and controls were 1870.83 ± 56.61 and 1899.22 ± 51.73 respectively and had significant difference in the MS group vs. the control group (t = −2.09, P = 0.04). There was significant negative correlation between precentral grey matter MPVs and disease duration (r = −0.365, P = 0.03). No correlation was found between MPVs and EDSS scores. Mean precentral gyrus volume in MS patients was 4368.55 ± 867.78 whereas in controls was 5701.00 ± 1184.03 with significant difference between volume of the precentral gyrus in MS patients compared to healthy controls (t = −5.167, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between MPVs and precentral gyrus volume (r = 0.291, P = 0.020).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that quantitative assessment of abnormal iron deposition in the precentral grey matter in MS patients can be measured using 3D-ESWAN.     

Diagnostic utility of DTI in prostate cancer

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the diffusion tensor parameters of prostate cancer, prostatitis and normal prostate tissue.

Materials and Methods

A total of 25 patients with the suspicion of prostate cancer were included in the study. MRI was performed with 3 T system (Intera Achieva, Philips Medical Systems, The Netherlands). T2 TSE and DTI with ss-EPI were obtained in each subject. TRUS-guided prostate biopsy was performed after the MRI examination. Images were analyzed by two radiologists using a special software system. ROI's were drawn according to biopsy zones which are apex, midgland, base and central zone on each sides of the gland. FA and ADC values in areas of cancer, chronic prostatitis and normal prostate tissue were compared using Student's t-test.

Results

Histopathological analysis revealed carcinoma in 68, chronic prostatitis in 67 and was reported as normal in 65 zones. The mean FA of cancerous tissue was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the FA of chronic prostatitis and normal gland. The mean ADC of cancerous tissue was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.01), compared with non-cancerous tissue.

Conclusion

Decreased ADC and increased FA are compatible with the hypercellular nature of prostate tumors. These differences may increase the accuracy of MRI in the detection of carcinoma and to differentiate between cancer and prostatitis.     

High correlation between quantitative ultrasound and DXA during 7 years of follow-up

Ultrasound is a quick, cheap and non-radiating device for assessing bone quality. We wanted to validate the method for clinical and epidemiological use.Eighty women, aged 53-73 years, with osteoporosis and/or fractures were followed repeatedly during 7 years. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements (LUNAR Achilles) were compared with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) estimated by DXA (LUNAR) in regions of interest.Changes in the speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were positively correlated with changes in BMD and BMC in all regions measured with DXA (r = 0.20-0.53; p = 0.09 to <0.0001). The QUS t-score at the left heel was positively correlated with the t-score at the right heel (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). The DXA t-score of the left vs. the right femur was also positively correlated (r = 0.72-0.86; p < 0.0001).A t-score < −2.5 S.D. was found in 70% and 56% at baseline, and 74% and 65% at follow-up measured with QUS and DXA, respectively. The mean sensitivity of QUS vs. DXA was 79% and the mean specificity 45% over a 7-year period. A QUS t-score of <−3.65 S.D. was consistent with a DXA t-score of <−2.5 S.D.In conclusion, QUS was well correlated with DXA in all regions over the 7-year period. QUS can be used in settings without access to DXA and in epidemiological studies. The sensitivity was high but the specificity was low, implicating that DXA, if available, is recommended before treatment for osteoporosis. However, treatment can be started without DXA at a QUS t-score < −3.65 S.D., and especially in the presence of fractures.